Heart age test points towards a healthier life

And if you’re heart’s older than the rest of you, you can find out what to do to make it younger.

Gill Boast, a Queen’s Nurse based in East Staffordshire is encouraging everyone to find out their heart’s age as part of a new national campaign.

Gill said: “Around seven million people in the UK are affected by Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) which is a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. CVD remains one of the largest causes of premature death or ill health.

“A quick and simple test can tell you your heart age and if it’s higher than your real age you could be at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke. But the good news is you could reduce your risk through some lifestyle changes.”

Gill added: “The heart age test will look at your own risk factors, such as whether you smoke or have any pre-existing medical conditions. If you take the test at your GP practice it may involve having your blood pressure and cholesterol taken.

Gill said: “If you are at increased risk then prevention is always better than cure and some lifestyle changes alone could make all the difference.”